Thoughts about actually having a baby...

jenaw84 · May 2012

I found this online and it's got me wondering.. Do any of you (or did you if you've already had a LO) worry about the actual delivery or wonder how your body works during the whole process? If you've already had a baby, was the overall experience like you thought it would be?

Kurstyn26 · May 2012

jenaw84:

I found this online and it's got me wondering.. Do any of you (or did you if you've already had a LO) worry about the actual delivery or wonder how your body works during the whole process? If you've already had a baby, was the overall experience like you thought it would be?

I actually just came across this yesterday while lurking the internet on the cervix. Im not going to lie, I was a little naive about the cervix and delivery. I actially felt my cervix yesterday while fertile. Crazy, they say its like fracturing 22 bones all at once.

pettycrocker · May 2012

I never did any childbirth classes so I honestly had no idea what to expect. I think even if you do the classes/ read all the books, nothing really prepares you for it. I'd imagine it's the same for all deliveries, not just the first. All the emotions kick in, and everything you learn along the way is out the window.

kacelle · May 2012

Labour was a lot more painful than I expected, but I had an epi-free induction. I'm sure it's much more manageable when it occurs naturally or is managed with an epidural. The actual delivery part wasn't too bad though! The doctor estimated that DD would be 6 pounds and told me there was no way I could push out a 6 pound baby due to my size. She was 7 pounds 9 ounces and I pushed her out with no tearing at all. Bodies can do amazing things!

meltoine · May 2012

I did so much research on birth while I was pregnant. I think I was as prepared as someone could possible be. But there's no way to prepare for the emotional process you go through in labor. I knew what was happening to my body and even knew to expect the emotional parts, but when you're inside of it there's no way to be objective about it and make yourself see it from a more clinical perspective.

I remember being dilated to a 7 (after 20 hours) and asking for the epi, which I was totally against. The next day I kicked myself for not realizing that I was in transition and the whole "I-can't-do-this-I'm-dying" mentality is the hallmark reaction to the beginning of transition. I knew this and reminded myself of it for months before I went into labor, but in the moment, my clinical knowledge of what was going on just didn't exist. I was all emotions and no reason.

nyc7781 · May 2012

Since I've never had a baby, it seems horrifying. But it's worth it in the end...that's what I've been told! I've delivered babies as a student and it is truly amazing to see it. Me being the patient?? Scary! But, I'll cross that bridge when I get there!

CutieBean79 · May 2012

That picture is missing the epidural needle that numbs it all...thank goodness...

In all seriousness, L&D was nothing & everything like I expected - painful, bearable, embarrassing, wonderful, scary - and then it was over. One brief time that passes like all other events. Recovery was worse for me than L&D and lasted a lot longer. I'm not looking forward to any of it, but then again it is exciting to think about it. Ok, none of that made sense. LOL

LiteraryFoodie · May 2012

Honestly, I'm not scared/worried/nervous about giving birth at all. Women all over the world give birth to perfectly healthy babies w/out hospitals every day. Our bodies were designed to give birth and I trust that.

In fact, MH and I just toured the Chapel Hill Birth Center this evening. It was awesome! I'm so excited for pregnancy, birth, and becoming a parent!

synchrosally · May 2012

Labour and delivery wasn't quite what I was expecting. I was induced for high blood pressure at 40 weeks. I didn't get the cream or pitocin, they just broke my water and I went into instant labour with contractions 60 seconds long 1 1/2 mins apart. I was not prepared to go that hard, that fast and in 2 hours I was vomiting. I thought I could hold out longer for an epidural, but I was beside myself. The actual delivery was wonderful because I had the world's largest epidural and felt literally nothing. I don't even remember delivering the placenta; I was too focused on my beautiful son.

synchrosally · May 2012

meltoine:
I did so much research on birth while I was pregnant. I think I was as prepared as someone could possible be. But there's no way to prepare for the emotional process you go through in labor. I knew what was happening to my body and even knew to expect the emotional parts, but when you're inside of it there's no way to be objective about it and make yourself see it from a more clinical perspective.
I remember being dilated to a 7 (after 20 hours) and asking for the epi, which I was totally against. The next day I kicked myself for not realizing that I was in transition and the whole "I-can't-do-this-I'm-dying" mentality is the hallmark reaction to the beginning of transition. I knew this and reminded myself of it for months before I went into labor, but in the moment, my clinical knowledge of what was going on just didn't exist. I was all emotions and no reason.

I had this ... at 4 cm!!! That 's when I called in reinforcements, blah.

pettycrocker · May 2012

synchrosally:
meltoine:
I did so much research on birth while I was pregnant. I think I was as prepared as someone could possible be. But there's no way to prepare for the emotional process you go through in labor. I knew what was happening to my body and even knew to expect the emotional parts, but when you're inside of it there's no way to be objective about it and make yourself see it from a more clinical perspective.
I remember being dilated to a 7 (after 20 hours) and asking for the epi, which I was totally against. The next day I kicked myself for not realizing that I was in transition and the whole "I-can't-do-this-I'm-dying" mentality is the hallmark reaction to the beginning of transition. I knew this and reminded myself of it for months before I went into labor, but in the moment, my clinical knowledge of what was going on just didn't exist. I was all emotions and no reason.
I had this ... at 4 cm!!! That 's when I called in reinforcements, blah.

LOL 4 for me too.

sophie206 · May 2012

Grace0609:
CutieBean79:

That picture is missing the epidural needle that numbs it all...thank goodness...

In all seriousness, L&D was nothing & everything like I expected - painful, bearable, embarrassing, wonderful, scary - and then it was over. One brief time that passes like all other events. Recovery was worse for me than L&D and lasted a lot longer. I'm not looking forward to any of it, but then again it is exciting to think about it. Ok, none of that made sense. LOL

It all makes perfect sense to me and I agree completely : ).

It makes sense - you perfectly summed it up.

AshQuackers · May 2012

I see labor and delivery almost every day, at work. Because of this I feel like I am overly knowledgeable about what to expect. My fear comes in the 'I hope I will be able to handle it, as good as I want to, once I am actually in it.' Especially since I will be delivering where I work and don't want to think I will be able to handle it and then have a total break down. I know that they wont think anything about it and really who cares if they do but I would also like to avoid feeling like I was a complete idiot during labor.

alilovesmatt08 · May 2012

This may sound weird, but I loved labor and delivery! My delivery got very scary with DS but he was fine and I would do it again in a heartbeat! It is such a neat experience and special time. The epidural helps too

fiestlylil1 · May 2012

I only dialated to 2 before I had my C-section. DS was breech, so I knew it was coming.

I expected the contractions to be really painful when my water broke, but they weren't any more uncomfortable for me than period cramps. Maybe I wasn't dialated enough, but i expected it to be so much worse.

AshQuackers · May 2012

slightlyslapdash:
ETA: I wanted to thank those ladies that shared their personal experience here. This thread is rather interesting.

I'm sorry, but I have to do this:
https://community.thebump.com/cs/ks/forums/thread/65733068.aspx

That is THE most AMAZING thread I have EVER read....OMG! DH and I were laughing so hard!!!

5dogs · May 2012

I didn't really worry about delivery but it didn't go as expected. My water had a very slow leak at 37 weeks that did not resolve its self, so I was induced after 2 days of leakage (with very little sleep). I did Hypnobabies and I loved it... but it did not replace Crohn's cramping with no sleep. After 17 hours of labor, I got the epidural which gave me enough time to take a short nap - I woke up essentially at 10cm, ready to go (& my epidural had worn off). Recovery was harder!

curlylocks3 · May 2012

I am not, but I'm also pretty familiar with the process. I hadn't seen that picture before, I may have to show it to DH at some point after I'm pregnant.

mrskitton · May 2012

I am not scared of that.....I think having a child is going to be the best experience in the world

Unknown · May 2012

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LiteraryFoodie · May 2012

secondaryPULSE:
I know I'm going to come off as sounding like some crazy hippy, but we had a homebirth with DS, and it was the most incredible experience of my life. Also, I didn't forget any of the things I learned (relaxation techniques, etc). Our labor was 13 hrs 15 mins, I pushed for 45 minutes, and DS weighed 8 lb 1 oz. The whole thing was incredibly empowering, and I think it really helped prepare me for being a mother. I wouldn't say it was painless by any stretch of the imagination, but I never felt afraid or like it was more than I could handle. I can't wait to do it again. (sorry if this is a little incoherent--iPhone)

Yay for hippies! I'm totally a hippie too. Everything you stated above is why we are ideally going to plan a homebirth. Though, we just toured a free standing birth center in Chapel Hill and we were really impressed. If we can't find a homebirth midwife we like, we'll go there. I love the idea of being surrounded in a comfortable and natural environment and by people who have all the tools, tricks, and techniques to help me give birth naturally (in case I forget). Because I want a med-free birth, I think it will be helpful to not even have them as an option, unless they are truly medically necessary. You can't get an epidural w/ homebirth or the birth center, and the midwives won't induce until you are creeping up on 42 weeks (and most likely if you haven't started labor by 42 weeks, you're going to need a hospital delivery anyway...)

Thanks for sharing your encouraging story! It makes me even more excited! :-)

kleigh926 · May 2012

I'll admit that thinking about pushing a baby out of me makes me a tad bit nervous, but mostly just really excited. We will take a childbirth class and I'll also be reading a lot to prepare myself, and while every experience is different, I know we will both be ecstatic about it.

reederah · May 2012

I wasn't really worries until my midwife I was in labor and going to have a baby that day. It definitely hurt more than I thought but I managed to do it pain-med free. We're trying for #2 now, so obviously it wasn't bad enough to scare me off for another round!

kje120 · May 2012

My whole labor and delivery was 8 hours start to finish. I didn't really give it much thought at the time because I was more in the 'holy crap - we are about to be responsible for this little tiny human' frame of mind. I was lucky to have a very easy delivery. I agree with Grace above though, the postpartum recovery and the body changes were not what I was expecting.

ShadyKull · May 2012

I haven't thought much about a birth plan, but I am not all that scared of the labor and delivery. I am sure it'll hurt, but I'll get through it. I may be a scrawny bish, but I got me some nice child bearing hips. I just want to put them to use.

NJMom050911 · May 2012

I wasn't so worried about the actual labor and delivery as I was anxious about the epi. I was so worried about my anxiety and how the epi side effects would affect me that I told myself I just have to deal with the pain so I avoid it alltogether. The pain was like someone squeezing your middle really tight and letting go. It really wasn't as bad as I was expecting. I made it to 8cm ( about 15-16 hours) before we had to rush to emergency c section (decreased heart rate) and I had to get an epi. That was not nearly as bad as I thought it would be. After that I was just a bit shakey and very numb from waist down. The c section felt like pulling and tugging. The pain after (like the day later) when I tried to walk to the bathroom was a lot worse than actual labor.

And I'd like to add that I agree with the PP that said all your learn in the classes goes out the window. The massaging, the birth plan, the me wanting to shower and walk etc. Once the pain hit I did not want to do anything but grab on to the side of the bed and get through the pain. In between I just wanted to catch my breath and since there isnt much in between time It was pretty much get through the pain, breathe, pain, breathe LOL You get in a zone and I couldn't even tell you what time it was or what was happening for several hours.

lovelyday39 · May 2012

I am totally not psyched about the birthing process- but I keep telling myself it's a necessary evil I focus on the end result and telling myself that this is what my body is actually built to do!

But I won't lie, thinking about labor and delivery does freak me out b/c I don't know what to expect. I'm a planner who toes the line of control freak, thus "unknown" doesn't sit well around here

kelly321 · May 2012

In my childbirth prep class, the midwife leading the class passed around a board with cutouts of the diameters, and that 10 cm looked pretty darn big. I never dilated at all, though. My cervix was still over 4cm long and my HELLP was getting worse pretty fast, so we had to do an unplanned c/s. I was pretty disappointed, but I'm over it now because I know that there was no other way to get her here safely. An induction would have taken too long and likely would have failed considering the state of my cervix. I'm excited for my VBAC attempt, though.

disneyfan0511 · May 2012

Labor was nothing like I expected. I pushed for 2 hours and then ended up having an emergency c/s and a huge baby - 9lbs 9oz. That said, I'm ready to do it all again and plan on trying for a VBAC.

epona3 · May 2012

It's kind of crazy, huh?

We did Bradley classes, and we both felt very prepared. I mean, it was different than I thought it would be (I couldn't imagine how hard it would be to push out a posterior baby for 2 hours.)

Recovery was definitely the hard part. A second (almost third) degree tear and severe PPA were not things I'd really considered before. Also, no matter how much weight I lose or exercise I do, my body will never be the same..

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